In German, erinnern and sich erinnern both relate to the idea of "remembering," but they function differently and have distinct grammatical rules. Understanding when to use each form will help you express yourself more clearly.
Remembering
- erinnern: This is a transitive verb, meaning it needs a direct object. It is usually used with a person as the direct object and the thing being remembered is introduced by an + accusative. It often means to remind someone or to cause someone to remember something.
- sich erinnern: This is a reflexive verb used when the subject is doing the remembering themselves. It takes the reflexive pronoun sich and is always followed by an + accusative to indicate what is being remembered. It means to remember something.
Examples
. Erinnern (to remind someone)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich erinnere dich an das Meeting. | I remind you of the meeting. |
| Kannst du mich an meinen Geburtstag erinnern? | Can you remind me about my birthday? |
| Sie erinnert ihn jeden Morgen an seine Medikamente. | She reminds him of his medication every morning. |
. Sich erinnern (to remember something)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich erinnere mich an meinen Geburtstag. | I remember my birthday. |
| Erinnerst du dich an unseren ersten Schultag? | Do you remember our first day of school? |
| Wir erinnern uns an den schönen Urlaub. | We remember the wonderful vacation. |
. Direct Object vs. Reflexive Pronoun
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich erinnere meine Schwester an die Hausaufgaben. | I remind my sister about the homework. |
| Meine Schwester erinnert sich an die Hausaufgaben. | My sister remembers the homework. |
. Using "an + Akkusativ"
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich erinnere dich an das Konzert. | I remind you about the concert. |
| Ich erinnere mich an das Konzert. | I remember the concert. |
. Past Tense with "haben"
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich habe dich an das Treffen erinnert. | I reminded you about the meeting. |
| Ich habe mich an das Treffen erinnert. | I remembered the meeting. |
My sister remembers the homework. (meine Schwester / sich erinnern / an die Hausaufgaben)
Meine Schwester erinnert sich an die Hausaufgaben.
"Sich erinnern" is reflexive (sich), followed by "an + Akkusativ". The verb is conjugated as erinnert.
Usage Tips
- Use erinnern when someone is reminding someone else. This form needs a person as a direct object and uses an + accusative for the thing.
- Use sich erinnern when someone is recalling or remembering something on their own. This form always uses the reflexive pronoun and an + accusative.
- Both verbs require an + accusative to specify what is being remembered or reminded about.
- Remember that erinnern can also be used in the passive voice (e.g., Ich wurde an die Frist erinnert – I was reminded of the deadline), but sich erinnern cannot.
Summary
- Erinnern: to remind someone (e.g., Ich erinnere dich an die Präsentation).
- Sich erinnern: to remember something (e.g., Ich erinnere mich an die Präsentation).
- Both use an + accusative to indicate the content.
- Pay attention to the object: erinnern takes a person as a direct object, while sich erinnern uses a reflexive pronoun.
Using these rules and examples, you can confidently choose between erinnern and sich erinnern in your German sentences.
I reminded you about the meeting. (ich / erinnern / du / an das Treffen)
Ich habe dich an das Treffen erinnert.
Gebruik "haben" + Partizip II "erinnert". Behoud het directe voornaamwoord (dich) en de constructie "an + Akkusativ".
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- English: I remind you of the meeting.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
